Some 73 people were arrested, 10 houses burnt and another 40 destroyed or seriously damaged in an attack in the Bolivian city of El Alto.

According to witnesses, hooded men arrived at the poor and isolated Jupiter neighbourhood with knives and explosives, threatening the community before setting light to several houses.

"They have burnt our houses, and who is going to take responsibility for this, Lord. May they be merciful," said resident Eugenia Mamani.

"We don't even have food, they burnt all the rice and noodles we had. A damned group of hooded men came with knives and kicked us women and children. Damned men," added Victoria Alegria.

Local police commander, Agustin Moreno, said that when the authorities arrived the violence had ended, and many locals had left.

The circumstances of the attack are being investigated. Locals believe the attackers were hired by a family which has previously complained of the presence of the community on the land in question, despite their claims that they possess rights to build there.

"We have the papers to build here legally, but they have destroyed everything even so. They arrived here with dynamite, we called the police for help but nobody came," said resident, Florencia Mamani.